Should Accessory Makers be sued?

[Peench]

Nintendo has apparently sued Nyko over Nyko's own brand of Wiimote.



Apparently because it looks just like the real thing and uses the Wii Logo, Nintendo isn't happy. But aren't there knock off remotes for just about everything? I can't imagine Nyko didn't approach Nintendo at the outset to try and work something out. Or perhaps they didn't. Frankly I don't know, but does it really matter?

Let's assume that they had made a replacement Wiimote and it didn't look exactly the same and didn't use the Wii logos. Would it have been okay then? I don't see why not? Why not encourage people to innovate with remotes and interface technology. Take this guy for example. Is he going to get sued next?

I guess quite a bit of money from this generation console sales comes from accessories so it is a touchy subject. But perhaps Nintendo should focus its efforts on bringing more Wii's to the market instead of suing accessory makers. But maybe that's just me.

What do you think? Should accessory makers be sued if they don't have permission to make accessories for a console?

[MadBryan]

Yes. I think they need to be given an approved set of specs and that wii mote is just to similar to be legal. If it doesn't match the quality and performance of nintendo's it could damage their image.

[The Milk Man 09]

I agree with mad b even if it is awesome it could mean loss of sales for nintendo for people just looking for a nintendo wiimote and if it doesnt perform it could damage their name.

[lovekeiiy]

3rd parties have been making controllers for various consoles since Atari. And many have had a very similar likeness to the OEM controllers. It's probably more the fact the "Wii" symbol looks like the OEM, so Nintendo is concerned about people thinking the Niko version is the Nintendo version. Picture people asking why the price difference or what if the quality was less than stellar.

Not that buy third party accessories very often, but I like they're there. Usually cheaper or have extra features that the OEM stuff doesn't. I just prefer the official version in most cases.

It'll be interesting to see what Nintendo is basing the suit on. It just doesn't quite make sense at this point.

[The Milk Man 09]

There are some times where a third party does make a better controller but mainly for me the thing I use most that is third party are headsets. The Playtronics x30 or my turtle beach x1's besides that I dont like 3rd party xbox controllers or batteries.

[namehater]

i hate 3rd party accessories, any that i have ever owned were absolute junk. i wish they would stop making the stuff altogether because i dont like sifting through all the crap when im shopping online for something official

[JParker0105]

I agree with Milk, i have a pair of Ear Force X3s and i love them. i just hate controllers that are 3rd party... they are junk.

[Wiz_Kid]

Agreed. 3rd party controllers ARE junk. I own a couple, but those were the days when i was young and naive and would do anything just to play Spyro . My hands always felt better with the official controllers though. And it feels weird when ur friends come over and you got a bootleg controller. People always wanna find a way to make money ;\

[AlphaQ GehaD]

Posted by Peench

What do you think? Should accessory makers be sued if they don't have permission to make accessories for a console?

I think they should if they dont have permission, But i also believe with the permission comes a Fee from the Original makers. I never really bought any third party controllers other than the time i got a mad catz for the PS2 just to play 2 players for 1 day. I soon returned it, I didnt like the feel of it at all.

I do however have small 3rd party stuff, Like my rechargeable battery for my 360 is by Nyko (Helps find my controller when it gets mixed up). Thats mainly it, And as for the guy who made a Wii friendly N64 controller, I dont think he will get sued unless he starts MASS SELLING it which i doubt he will. Plus its probably not motion sensitive, its just the simple controller that will be used to play Smash Bros.

[Thornes70]

yeah, they should get sued - IF they didn't have permission. You have patent and trademark infringement, plus any number of image/perceptions of quality, etc. that could tarnish the reputation of the original manufacturer.

Now the guy who tooled around with his own console and controllers - assuming he bought and is using for himself - no issues there; he paid for them, he owns them, and if he wants to void any warranty, that's his business... He can even post up on the internet the exact way he did it and theres nothing Nintendo could do about it (or very little, if he's trying to make money off it).

Sue the bastahds and use the money to make some damn Wiis, Nintendo!